Main Difference
The main difference between Pity and Sympathy is that the Pity is a sonnet by João da Cruz e Sousa and Sympathy is a perception, understanding, and reaction to the distress or need of another human being
Pity
Pity is a sympathetic sorrow evoked by the suffering of others and is used in a comparable sense to compassion, condolence or empathy. Through frequent, insincere, pejorative usage, it is used to connote feelings of superiority, condescension, or contempt.
Sympathy
Sympathy (from the Greek words syn “together” and pathos “feeling” which means “fellow-feeling”) is the perception, understanding, and reaction to the distress or need of another life form. This empathic concern is driven by a switch in viewpoint, from a personal perspective to the perspective of another group or individual who is in need.
Pity (noun)
A feeling of sympathy at the misfortune or suffering of someone or something.
Pity (noun)
Something regrettable.
“It’s a pity you’re feeling unwell because there’s a party on tonight.”
Pity (noun)
Piety.
Pity (verb)
To feel pity for (someone or something). from 15th c.
Pity (verb)
To make (someone) feel pity; to provoke the sympathy or compassion of. from 16th c.
Pity (interjection)
Short form of what a pity.
Sympathy (noun)
A feeling of pity or sorrow for the suffering or distress of another; compassion.
Sympathy (noun)
The ability to share the feelings of another.
Sympathy (noun)
A mutual relationship between people or things such that they are correspondingly affected by any condition.
Sympathy (noun)
Tendency towards or approval of the aims of a movement.
“Many people in Hollywood were blacklisted merely because they were suspected of Communist sympathies.”